Bent crankshaft for motorized valves

Abstract

A bent crankshaft assembly for motorized valves. The crankshaft is formed having three distinct regions, a connection region, a bend region, and a sphere retaining region. These regions are formed in a unitary rod without staking or milling operations.

We claim: 
     
       1. A valve crankshaft, comprising: a unitary rod having first and second ends, said unitary rod being formed into three regions: a drive region at said first end, said drive region having a flat formed therein;   a bend region between said first and second ends, said bend region having a forming angle; and   a sphere mating region between said bend region and said second end,   wherein said sphere mating region comprises a recessed bearing surface in said rod for rotatably mounting a sphere having a bore including an internal snap ring, wherein said recessed bearing region is formed to match said internal snap ring.     
     
     
       2. A valve crankshaft as defined in claim 1, wherein: said angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees.   
     
     
       3. A valve for use in a fluid flow control system, valve being operated by a drive device, comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet for allowing fluid flow therethrough;   a spherical fluid blocking device having a bore including an internal snap ring;   a unitary crankshaft connected to the valve body and having a drive mating region being formed to mate with the drive device, an angle region forming an angle in said crankshaft and a fluid blocking device mating region, said spherical fluid blocking device being connected to the crankshaft at the fluid blocking device mating region, wherein said fluid blocking device mating region comprises a recessed bearing surface in said unitary crankshaft for rotatable mounting said spherical fluid blocking device, wherein said recessed bearing region is formed to match said internal snap ring, said crankshaft being positioned within the valve body such that movement of the crankshaft in a first direction causes the spherical fluid blocking device to move toward the inlet and away from the outlet.   
     
     
       4. A valve as defined in claim 3, wherein said angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees.